As demand for talent in STEM fields continues to grow, there is an opportunity to attract students to pursue a STEM education and career in Indiana – which would help strengthen the state’s economy.  

That is why, in 2010, Butler University established the Sciences Expansion and Renovation Project, a three-phase expansion and renovation of the university’s sciences complex to support 21st century student learning and innovation. With high-tech classrooms, new lab spaces, and collaborative work areas, the university aims to increase enrollment, create new science programs, and meet the growing demand for STEM talent.  

The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation has awarded $13 million to Butler University to support the project since 2013. This work aligns with the Foundation’s focus on bolstering the vitality of Indianapolis through increased STEM talent and honors Dick Fairbanks’ legacy as a trustee at Butler University.

Additional Posts

Fairbanks Foundation’s Commitment to Reducing the Rate of Opioid Use Disorder: A Review of Grantmaking Focused on the Opioid Epidemic From 2015 to 2019

Claire Fiddian-Green is the President & CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. In 2014, more than 1,100 Hoosiers died as a result of drug poisoning – greater than the number of fatalities from car accidents – with prescription opioid misuse and heroin use responsible for a majority of these deaths. In response to the […]

The Opioid Epidemic is Getting Worse—What Can We Do?

Alex Cohen is the Director of Learning and Evaluation for the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation. From July 2016 to September 2017, Indiana’s emergency departments saw a 35 percent increase in opioid overdoses, according to data released this month from the CDC. The most dramatic increases occurred in metropolitan areas like Indianapolis. These numbers indicate that […]